The premiere of the thirty sixth season of “The Simpsons” was novel. Matt Groening’s animated sitcom has been airing for therefore lengthy — so … so lengthy! — that audiences have continuously begun to surprise how the zeitgeist-defining hit ought to come to an finish. Will it faucet out at season 40? At 50? And in that case, how would the collection truly shut? Maybe to take the strain off, the showrunners determined that the premiere of season 36 ought to be a preemptive collection finale, giving a retrospective of your entire “Simpsons” oeuvre earlier than the present truly ends. The episode, referred to as “Bart’s Birthday,” was introduced as an awards-show-style screening, projected in a theater full of celebrities (“Bizarre Al” Yankovic! Penn & Teller! The Unknown Comedian!). Conan O’Brien, taking part in himself, hosted the finale in wistful phrases, bidding farewell to the long-running collection.
In fact, many well-known individuals are in attendance, and sharp-eyed followers will be capable of scan the viewers of the finale theater and spot any variety of celebrities. Along with the few talked about above, Tony Hawk was there, as had been Mick Jagger, Gordon Ramsay, Katy Perry, Tom Hanks, Dolly Parton, Ron Howard, John Waters, Serena Williams, Seth Rogen, Mr. T, and plenty of others. One would possibly catch Rogen’s laughter, however none of those celebrities have any traces (though Hanks will chime in afterward).
In a fast cutaway from one among O’Brien’s jokes, one can see celebrated director Kevin Smith in attendance as effectively, carrying his trademark trenchcoat, backward ballcap, and outsize hockey jersey. Smith’s cameo got here as an enormous shock, it appears, to Smith himself. On his Instagram account, Smith posted a screenshot of “Bart’s Birthday,” declaring that he was “shocked and delighted” to see himself on display.
Kevin Smith discovered he was on The Simpsons concurrently everybody else
Smith’s whole put up learn:
“I used to be shocked and delighted to find that I used to be on the season premiere of ‘The Simpsons!’ I haven’t got any traces (like the primary time I used to be on the present) however you may see me in an viewers shot, Silent Bobbing it! Honored to be included as an additional on a present I’ve beloved since day one among its existence! Holy s***! Every little thing’s developing Milhouse!”
“Silent Bobbing it” refers to Silent Bob, a largely non-speaking character that Smith has performed in most of his personal directorial efforts.
The primary time Smith was on “The Simpsons” was within the episode “Freeway to Nicely” (March 22, 2020), an episode that follows Marge (Julie Kavner) as she takes a job a Sprinfield’s latest hashish dispensary. Marge is shocked that she is promoting weed, however proves to be a superb saleswoman. Her effectivity impresses her boss, and Marge will get invited to host the opening of a brand new weed-based resort. She additionally, alongside the best way, shuts down an try by Homer (Dan Castellaneta) to open a rival dispensary.
Homer, making an attempt to sabotage Marge’s resort opening, sneaks into the opening, claiming to be Kevin Smith’s father. Smith, as his followers effectively know, is an open marijuana advocate. Later within the episode, Smith randomly seems on-screen and, maybe bafflingly, calls Homer “dad.”
As of this writing, “Bart’s Birthday” and “Freeway to Nicely” are the one two occasions Smith has appeared on “The Simpsons.” In 2020, Smith was interviewed by NJ.com and stated he thought-about his cameo on “The Simpsons” to be a “profession milestone.” Smith later discovered, as he sort of predicted, that he wasn’t the producers’ first selection for “Freeway.” They initially needed Seth Rogen.
No matter. Rogen’s loss is Smith’s achieve.
